Rephonic
Artwork for Professor of Rock

Professor of Rock

Gamut Podcast Network
Rock Music
The Beatles
Led Zeppelin
Van Halen
1970s Music
Dire Straits
Pink Floyd
Stuttering
Cyndi Lauper
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Eddie Van Halen
The Joshua Tree
Michael Jackson
Ventura Highway
Bee Gees
1987
Phil Collins
Supertramp
Styx
Kiss

The ultimate rock music history podcast for fans of the greatest era of music. If you’ve ever wondered about the true stories behind your favorite songs, or wanted to hear directly from the legends who made them, Professor of Rock is your new go-to podcast. Hosted by music historian and superfan Adam Reader, this show brings the golden era of music back to life with exclusive interviews, behind-th... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1699Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Professor of Rock

Latest Episodes

It’s time to jump in the Time Machine and change Music History with the songs that deserved to be #1 in an amazing year from the 80s. Today we have some great songs, including the shy, unknown singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, who was asked to sub in ... more

Let’s travel back to 1975 and rewrite history. In 75, 36 Songs hit #1, but as we look at the songs that missed #1 but hit the top 10, I would bet my life on the fact that most of these songs were better than the #1 hits. So let’s give them their due ... more

Coming up, a new show where I give you 3 unbelievable rock and roll stories straight from the legends themselves in 10 minutes or less that will make you laugh, cry, or both. It’s our premier episode of Zingers including the young icon Young MC who w... more

A few weeks ago, I introduced a new show where I did a pop culture crossover of Rock and Roll Meets Star Wars, including a story of how Terri Nunn, the Lead singer of New Wave band Berlin, was a frontrunner for the role of Princess Leia…She even had ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Rick Beato
Musician, educator, and YouTuber known for in-depth music analysis and interviews
Self / Beato Channel
Episode: A Classic Rock Masterclass with Rick Beato | Full Interview
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Band behind Fortunate Son, discussed in political context
Fantasy Records/CCR
Episode: The Greatest #3 Hits of Rock’s Golden Era
Stevie Wonder
Artist featured as a number three hit with Uptight, Everything Is Alright
Motown
Episode: The Greatest #3 Hits of Rock’s Golden Era
Glen Campbell
Artist behind Wichita Lineman, discussed in-depth
Country/Crossover artist
Episode: The Greatest #3 Hits of Rock’s Golden Era
Brian Wilson
Artist discussed in the episode, cited as describing the California Girls intro and inspiration
The Beach Boys
Episode: The Greatest #3 Hits of Rock’s Golden Era
John Fogerty
Artist discussed in the episode, interviewed about Fortunate Son
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Episode: The Greatest #3 Hits of Rock’s Golden Era
Mick Jagger / Keith Richards
Artists discussed in Jumping Jack Flash segment
The Rolling Stones
Episode: The Greatest #3 Hits of Rock’s Golden Era
Don Barnes
Guitarist and vocalist of 38 Special
38 Special
Episode: 38 Special’s Don Barnes on the Stories Behind “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up in You” & Their Biggest Hits
Ali Campbell
UB40 lead vocalist (the late member Astro later joined and contributed to the story)
UB40
Episode: FROM THE VAULT: Red Red Wine: How a DJ's Mistake Turned UB40's Song Into a Chart-Topping Hit

Host

Adam Reader
Host of Professor of Rock, music historian and storyteller

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 412 ratings
  • Awesome show.

    Always entertaining. If you have any interest in rock or pop music of any type you’ll enjoy this podcast. Love the YouTube version as well. Well done

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tango459
    Canadaa month ago
  • Love the Professor of Rock!

    Love your podcasts! How about doing an episode on the “The Producers” (“She Sheila”) Had a lot of great early 80’s pop rock songs

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BM ‘60
    United Statesa month ago
  • Rocks!

    Adam’s eloquent presentation combined with never-ending interesting

    subjects makes for one of my favorite podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paulus787
    United States2 months ago
  • New favorite

    I really like this no nonsense looks at these topics. I’m currently listening to the one about critics and agree 100%

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lindyc5
    United States3 months ago
  • Love it!

    Thank you for all the info about my favorite songs & favorite musicians… and the random ones too. Keep it up - I’ll keep listening!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CarolynC1975
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show's behind-the-scenes detail and the host's enthusiasm.
Execs pitching the show can emphasize its nostalgic appeal and authoritative music history insights.
Positive reception highlights deep research, engaging storytelling, and strong guest lineups.
The show is noted for its accessibility in audio format and entertaining interviews.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#75
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#48
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#120
Australia/Music
Apple Podcasts
#165
Israel/Music
Apple Podcasts
#169
New Zealand/Music
Apple Podcasts
#184
Philippines/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

38 Special’s Don Barnes on the Stories Behind “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up in You” & Their Biggest Hits
Q: What was it for you, whether it was a song you heard or someone in your life, that kicked open the door to pursuing music?
Don describes the moment as part of a larger influence set, including early family musical training and iconic artists, which collectively pushed him toward a life in music, with a clear memory of deciding to pursue it during his formative years.
Kenny Loggins on the Story Behind “I’m Alright” and the Caddyshack Soundtrack
Q: What was the origin of the oom-pah heartbeat in the drums, and why is it so central to the groove?
The drummer was limited, so we simplified to an oom-pah pattern, then layered oom-pah and oom-doo-doo to create a heartbeat that defined the groove and helped the song stand out, especially in live performances.
Kenny Loggins on the Story Behind “I’m Alright” and the Caddyshack Soundtrack
Q: How did the collaboration with Eddie Money come about, and how did it affect the track?
I invited Eddie Money to sing a line on the track to enrich the vocal texture, and although there was later a memory about not crediting him on the label, it became a memorable moment that added depth to the bridge and the overall vocal layering.
Kenny Loggins on the Story Behind “I’m Alright” and the Caddyshack Soundtrack
Q: What was the spark that led you to write the main vocal line for I'm Alright?
The concept came from watching the rough cut of Caddyshack and interpreting the temp music; I aimed to capture a rebellious, bluesy edge that would fit Danny's character, which then birthed the song's signature vocal approach.
The True Story of Player’s #1 Hit “Baby Come Back”
Q: How did that initial writing session come together and spark the idea for Baby Come Back?
Beckett explains that the chord progression and the evolving chorus emerged from late-night jam sessions with Crowley, starting with a new guitar voicing and growing into a full song with the hook and three-part harmony that defined the track.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Professor of Rock

What is Professor of Rock about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show offers deep, story-driven explorations of rock and pop history, with a focus on the stories behind famous tracks, the people who made them, and the moments that shaped music culture. Episodes mix origin tales, studio lore, celebrity anecdotes, and long-form interviews with musicians, producers, and industry figures. The host's enthusiastic, encyclopedic delivery and a strong emphasis on behind-the-scenes context make it a go-to for listeners who crave hearing how timeless songs were created and how careers evolved across decades. A standout quality is the consistent use of first-hand recollections and live conversation, which gives listeners a sense of being in the room with legends and the era's biggest moments, from MTV-era brea... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Professor of Rock?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Professor of Rock. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Professor of Rock and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Professor of Rock get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Professor of Rock, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Professor of Rock?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Professor of Rock, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Professor of Rock have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Professor of Rock has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Professor of Rock?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Professor of Rock:

1. Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
2. Rolling Stone All Access
3. The Eddie Trunk Podcast
4. Really? no, Really? with Jason Alexander & Peter Tilden
5. Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

How many episodes of Professor of Rock are there?

Professor of Rock launched a year ago and published 1699 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Professor of Rock?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Professor of Rock?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Professor of Rock from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Professor of Rock?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Professor of Rock. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Professor of Rock?

Recent guests on Professor of Rock include:

1. Rick Beato
2. Creedence Clearwater Revival
3. Stevie Wonder
4. Glen Campbell
5. Brian Wilson
6. John Fogerty
7. Mick Jagger / Keith Richards
8. Don Barnes

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days